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Periods of Exclusion - Childhood Diseases

Periods of Exclusion - Childhood Diseases

If you think your child might spread an illness

  • Keep your child at home and away from others.
  • Contact a healthcare provider for a diagnosis.
  • Your healthcare provider will advise you about care and treatment when a communicable disease is diagnosed.
  • Visit Caring for Kids (external link) for reliable information developed by Canadian pediatricians.

List of communicable diseases

Children with the following diseases may need to remain at home and away from others.

Chickenpox (Varicella)

It is recommended that individuals who have chickenpox stay home until they are feeling well and it has been five days since the start of their rash or until lesions have crusted over, whichever comes first.

COVID-19

  • Keep home until child does not have a fever and symptoms are improving for 24 hours (or 48 hours for nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea).
  • All individuals should stay home if they develop any new or worsening symptoms. 

Fifth's Disease (Parvovirus)

It is recommended that individuals who have chickenpox stay home until they are feeling well and it has been five days since the start of their rash or until lesions have crusted over, whichever comes first.

Gastroenteritis (diarrhea/vomiting)

  • Gastrointestinal symptoms (for example, vomiting and diarrhea) can be an indication of both enteric and other illnesses, including COVID-19.
  • If no specific pathogen is identified, children and staff with new or worsening symptoms of gastroenteritis are to remain home until symptom free for at least 48 hours.

Hand, foot and mouth (HFM) Disease

  • No exclusion
  • Children with HFM do not need to remain at home if they are feeling well enough to take part in activities and do not have a fever.
  • It is recommended that children with excessive drooling due to mouth sores and/or open blisters on their body should remain at home until symptoms resolve.

Impetigo

Keep home until the antibiotic prescribed by a doctor has been taken for at least 24 hours and they feel well enough to participate.

Influenza and common cold

Keep home until child feels well enough to participate in regular activities.

Measles (rubeola)

Keep home for at least 4 days after the rash begins.

Mumps

Keep home for at least 5 days after the swollen glands first appear.

Pink-eye (Conjunctivitis)

  • Bacterial: keep home until the antibiotic prescribed by a doctor has been taken for at least 24 hours.
  • Viral: keep home until eye discharge resolves or decision made by physician.

Ringworm

Keep home until first treatment has been started.

Rubella (German measles)

Keep home until at least 7 days after the rash first appears.

Scabies

Keep home until after the first treatment.

Scarlet fever

Keep home until antibiotic prescribed by a doctor has been taken for at least 24 hours and they feel well enough to participate in activities.

Strep throat

Keep home until antibiotic prescribed by a doctor has been taken for at least 24 hours and they feel well enough to participate in activities.

Whooping cough (Pertussis)

Keep home until 5 days of appropriate antibiotic treatment received or for 3 weeks from onset of illness, if not treated.

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